Scare of Rides.

Nothing is wrong with her. She is scared of rides right now. I am still not fond of rides and I am completely normal.

She is not abnormal because she does not yet enjoy some activities that some other kids her age enjoy.

Don't push her, don't demean her, go with the flow and she'll be fine. If you make a big deal out of it then she will begin to believe something is wrong with her when it's not.

My son is 8 and he's still like this. When we would go to the local fairs he would only go in the fun zones. NEVER on any kind of ride. Who cares? Its ok that she doesn't want to go on them. The more you fuss about it the more it will stress her out. She will eventually probably try something and once she sees how fun it is you probably won't be able to get her off them! Good luck!

Last time I went to Disney, I was in 5th grade and lived in Jersey. I had such a huge panic attack on the plane they had to give me Valium... you'd think going to Disney would have been the greatest thing ever... the plane ride did me in! Yeah, I was 'that kid'... haven't been on a plane since.

Maybe by the time she's 7 she'll get over it ;)

Whoa, slow down. You feel like crying?!
Lots of kids don't like rides. And your daughter is only 4 and a half, she'll probably outgrow it (most kids do) but maybe not. My 12 year old still hates them. Sure it's frustrating sometimes when we go to a theme park as a family and I wish she loved them as much as I do but she doesn't.
Please accept your daughter for who she is, this is NOT worth getting so upset about :(

ITA with those who said that not everyone likes rides and there's nothing "wrong" with that. My DD's will be 10YO in November and have still never been to Disneyland or Disney World and honestly, they don't feel they've "missed out" because they'd much rather go to some place like the Monterey Bay Aquarium or museum-hopping with their favorite younger cousin. And since I'm not much of a "rides" person myself and grew up feeling a bit like a chicken because of it, I've told them what I realized later in life - some people enjoy rides, some don't - it's like different preferences in food. And some people who like really scary rides might think that makes them somehow cooler or braver than people who don't like scary rides but really it's still like hot sauce on a burrito - some people might think they're braver or cooler because they can handle super-spicy hot sauce but in reality it's just personal preference.

Instead of feeling like crying -maybe engage her in a conversation over what kinds of things she *does* like - music? art? animals? nature? sports? dance? science? The world would be a boring place if everyone liked all the same things. And besides, the Disney trips are so expensive - why spend a lot of $ on something non-essential that your DD is reluctant to do when you could use it to help her explore a few things she *does* have an interest in (trips to kids nature, science, or art museums, music, dance, or sports lessons, etc.)

I know that this is just your frustration talking but please get a grip. This is certainly nothing for YOU to cry about. There is NOTHING wrong with her! Some kids don't like rides. So what? My oldest son doesn't like rides and we assured him that there was plenty else to do at local fairs, Disney, Six Flags etc. and it has never interfered with us enjoying these places as a family. He does what he is comfortable doing and we don't push him to do other things. Last summer my hubby, step-daughter and I all rode Super Man at Six Flags and he declined but had a great time at the water park (he and my SD were both 12, btw). He will probably never ride a roller coaster or anything scary, freely admits it and doesn't feel embarrassed about it at all.

Don't make her feel bad about this. Respect her boundaries and accept her the way she is. She may outgrow the fear or may not but if you make a big deal out of it, you will suck the joy out of theme parks and events. Just let her know that there is lots to do that's not at all scary, that you would never make her do something she doesn't want to and follow through. And it's a little too early to be bringing up a trip that's 2.5 years away. Do not mention going to Disney again until it's actually time to book the trip. No need to torture her with fear for the next 2.5 years, and she'll probably won't be afraid then if you don't make an issue of it.

There is nothing wrong with her! You need to get over yourself. My daughter didn't like stuff like that at 4 1/2 either. We took her to Disney when she was 8 and there's plenty of stuff to do other than ride big, scary rides. Who is the Disney trip for - her or you and your husband? If the trip is for her, do the stuff she likes and forget about the other stuff. She will change as she gets older.

how about showing some respect for the child??? would you like someone to force you to do something that makes you afraid,sick quesy---very miserable? wth is wrong with you?

nothing is wrong with her I am 50 and still dont go on rides she is afraid of the height or the drops she feels in her stomach on roller coasted how about some understanding. as for a plane there are ways to help her threw it thats normal to fear first time but rides that needs understanding so what if she doesnt like rides there are other attractions in disney .Maybe your just upset because you cant go on the rides so go with other adults and take turns.

She's so little! Who cares if she rides??

My older daughter never really did like rides. We went to Disney many times when she was growing up, and there are plenty of things to do there without riding rides. (She did eventually do some rides, but still hates roller coasters and I love them!) I think you're really pushing this. She's still pretty little. It probably will change. Nothing to cry about. Save your tears for real issues. Shrug your shoulders and move on.

I am not a thrill ride person. At age 4 1/2, I wouldn't even have gone to a county fair.

Study after study shows that some people's brain chemistry is such that they experience the same sensations on the small kiddie rides that other people do on huge thrill rides. So, those big, fast, high rides are NOT fun for someone like me. I've had people worry that I'm missing out, and I'm 45! It's so hard to get adrenaline junkies to wrap their heads around the idea that I really, truly WILL NOT have fun on rides that they love.

One of my kids is like my husband and loves coasters. The other 3 are like me. My husband spent years assuming that the kids were just imitating me, and that I was somehow broken, before finally deciding that, OK, everyone is different. He still thinks we're wrong, but that's OK. :)

I love Disney, but the first time I went I was 17. I'll ride Space Mountain, the Matterhorn (in Disneyland), Big Thunder Mountain (one of my favorites!) and Splash Mountain, but Splash only if it's HOT, HOT - I hate walking around wet. Expedition Everest is the absolute limit of what I'll ride, and I close my eyes on the big drop. My 24 year old daughter won't ride even some stuff that I will, but she too loves Disney. We love the whole atmosphere, the shows, the entire experience, not just big rides. My 12 year old also loves Disney, but won't do the teacups - the spinning makes her sick.

On the other hand, some of my friends only ride the big rides over and over, and never do the other stuff. I think that's wierd - especially when they're like my 16 year old's best friend, who'll ride the same ride over and over until he throws up. How fun is that?

Everyone does not have to be the same! She may never like amusement rides. She might decide when she's older that she loves them. Don't push, nag or get disappointed. Give her opportunities to do something just a tiny bit outside her comfort zone, and her comfort zone might expand. If not, well, she doesn't have to ride amusement rides.

Just drop it for awhile. My daughter was like that too. She is 10 now, and still slow to warm up to the idea of doing something scary. She is just cautious. She has nothing wrong with her. My daughter does like scarier rides now, like Splash Mountain at Disney.... but she started out freaking out at anything having to do with gravitational issues when she was just a tot. Seriously... I tried to do the baby toss --you know--toss them up a few inches above your face and catch them.. never really even letting go?--she clung to me like a cat avoiding dunking in a bathtub! She was PETRIFIED.

My son, on the other hand, is a thrill ride junkie and has been from a young age (at 3 yrs old we got stuck on a splash ride and had to go around a 2nd time before exiting the ride. He didn't want to get off even then).

Just follow her lead and don't make a big deal out of it. When you decide to try to introduce something, just go a tiny tiny step beyond her self proclaimed comfort level===and do it WITH HER. If she doesn't decide it is fun, don't force it. Move on to something else. My daughter took years to work up to coasters (even the little tiny kiddie coasters)..but she liked the kind that spun you around horizontally (the zipper? at county fairs).
At 10 yrs, she still refuses to do a coaster with a loop in it. So what? One day she will decide to give it a shot, or not.
Just don't force it.

There is NOTHING wrong with your child. Some children LOVE these rides right off the bat, others don't. Some grow to love them, some don't. There are MANY adults who don't like them. Some of us like them sometimes and sometimes not.

Seven is still a ways off, she may change her mind and like some of the rides. There's a lot to do at Disneyland and DisneyWorld other than the rides. I wouldn't push it or matter of factly let her know sometimes kids like these things as they get a little older and leave it at that. There's enough in life to stress over about, don't make liking carnival/roller coaster type rides one of them for your daughter.

Added: Kuddos to Elaine C! Also, My daughter is going to be 9. She doesn't like the ferris wheel or some of the taller roller coasters. She LOVES the tilta whirl and the tea cups (spinning) though. If talked into, I like rides but am afraid of heights so have to overcome the initial anxiety over it.

Why don't you just let your child be herself. If she says she doesn't like them, then she doesn't. A LOT of 4 year olds are afraid of rides, there's nothing wrong with that. Don't take her to amusement parks if she doesn't like rides. There are about a hundred other places you can take her. Zoos, museums, parks, plays, concerts, etc etc etc.

my sons have always been huge fans of amusement park rides....never an issue for me.

By contrast, my niece was 12 before she starting doing ANY rides.....& my nephew was 14!!!! OH, & proud Aunt moment: he's graduating from the Naval Academy 2moro!! .....& has qualified for SEALS!! How's that for a turnaround? !!

I agree with the other posters that are essentially saying, "Don't worry about it." I don't like fast rides. Tried one once when I was a kid and almost snapped my neck! I'm just not strong enough for them. My son doesn't like them either, because he gets car sick and he's 12. Does it mean we don't have fun? No, we enjoy watching, going on slow stuff like the carrasel, enjoying the food, and playing games. We're big game fans, claw machine fans, and museums. Science museums and aquariums are the greatest! You might want to save Disney for when she's a little older, can remember the experience, and understand what's going on. There's lots to do at Disney for the anti-ride person. There's the Tiki Hut, the presidents, that future thing, etc. Then there's the Epcot Center.

Maybe she is more sensitive to the rides than most. I like some rides but never liked roller coasters. Maybe wait for next summer and try some places that are designed for younger kids. In our ares some nearby possibilities are:
Adventure Land on LI, Rye Playland (Westchester county, NY), Land Of Make Believe (North Western NJ) or Sesame Place (PA, near Phillidelphia).

Hi. You feel like crying because you are a great mom who wants to know her child is comfortable and is having a good time. I can relate and won't tell you to "get a grip". Anyway, it seems like some either like rides or don't or some just need to be older. My son just turned 4 and last time we went to Adventureland he liked the rides but other times he is still afraid. She may just need more time. Sounds like you have time before your Disney trip. Why not try to talk about the other attractions and things to do besides the rides? Then she will get excited and hopefully think nothing of the plane ride. Good luck ;).

Why dont you have her pick something she likes for her birthday celebrations? My son doesnt like loud noises and I didnt take him to movies until he was five. He doesnt like crowds so I know he would NOT like Disney. I dont think he'll be ready at 7, maybe 9?

completely normal. i live by disney, so we took my daughter when she was 2 and then again when she was 5 and my son was 3. that year we took them 3 different times. I had my son get on the rides, but he cried on Snow White, almost on Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, and was scared at first on It's a Small World. I didn't have him get on the Haunted Mansion. But he did ride Thunder Mountain, and he had a blast on that one and wanted to ride it again. My son is scared of the dark, so I just told him to try the rides (they all have a dim light in them except for the Haunted Mansion at some points) and if he didn't want to ride them again, he didn't have to. but i did want him to try them. I don't blame your daughter about the airplane. i wouldn't get on one to see Mickey either :)

DS went to Disney World last summer (he was 4-1/2, we were in Anaheim for a meeting). He found some of the rides scary - I would have too - they are much faster, brighter and louder than they used to be. Even the Pirates of the Caribbean which used to be a little cheesy floating log ride is now high tech. I would have been frightened too. I would not worry about her.

7 is 2 1/2 years away. Would not even mention it to her. She may outgrow
her fears. Heck I do not go on anything high, anything that drops. It it stays
on the ground I am ok even if it goes fast. When she is 7 and is still
afraid, I would explain to her that Disney is not rides. There is so much
she could enjoy. If she does not want to fly, take Amtrak. It is the only
way we travel and love it. Just be patient with her. Not everyone is a
thrill seeker.

Nothing at all is wrong with your child. She is a timid, careful little girl. Support her, her fears are valid. She is telling you what she is ready for now. Have patience, she will grow out of it.
And rejoice while you're at it: You will be grateful she is cautious by nature when she hits her teens!

J.,
You have a baby girl who is very sensitive. Don't force her. At 4.5 years, she is rather young for a park. My opinion, yes but I look at my almost 4 year old and HE would say the same thing! He'll go on a swing - the full bucket type, not the single slat seats.

Don't even mention Disney and maybe in 2.5 years, she may get over not wanting to fly, or wanting to be high, spin or anything like that. She may like it by then. But just leave it until you or your husband make final arrangements for going - in case she is STILl not wanting to go. It is a lot of $ you can do something else with - like the zoo!

There isn't a thing wrong with her! She just doesn't like these things! And to make her go, or continually remind her, may lead to a fear of these things and behavior that results in not wanting to go (ie: if you do that, you won't get to go to Disney. Hmmm, don't wanna go to Disney at all, so HEY, I'll do just what you don't want me to do!)

She enjoys what other kids enjoy - just not the ones you are comparing her to. Just give her what she wants and she will be happy. !

Good luck,
M.

Not all kids like rides. She doesnt have to. You feel like crying? You are over reacting. Not liking amusement rides at 4 years old is not a tragedy and doesn't affect her oveall quality of life. You can't make her like things. If she's hesitant to ride, then don't force the issue. I wouldn't start worrying about things that are going to happen when she is 7, she is four years old now and that is a long time away. This isn't something that's a big deal, I promise, I've been a mom for 16 years and I do know what is a big issue and what is not.

Thats funny I can relate. We just returned from Disney June 30th. We had a blast!!! Anyhow we have 3 kids. My middle child a boy. Pretty much didnt want to go on the normal water slides at the hotel pool and most of the rides. After we made him on each ride then that ride would become his favorite.
Maybe go to Dorney Park in Pa. There is a section for young children there. It would build her confidence.Its probably about 1 1/2 hr from where you reside.